Football: The Game of Life and Death

Football has always been a fixture in my family. I grew up in a very odd relationship with my father. We never saw eye to eye on anything, but we could always talk about football. He played in high school and was an all-state linebacker. I tried to follow in in footsteps and played linebacker at his alma mater. Football connected us, and for a good part of my life that was all we had.

A few years ago, I had a very interesting conversation with my dad. We had been chatting about football (go figure) and he made the comment that I was lucky he didn't know anything about concussions when I was in school or there was no chance I would have ever played football. I was a little floored by this comment, but after I thought about it he had a point.

During my junior and senior seasons (between football, baseball and basketball) I was diagnosed with five concussions. At the time there wasn't as much awareness of the dangers that multiple concussions could render on the brain. In the small school I attended we didn't have a medical staff or athletic trainer so often times a coach would ask me how I was and I would head back into the game. The worst experience came when I was a junior. I was playing fullback and our quarterback tossed an interception. I was able to grab the defender from behind and I was pulling him back in attempt to slow his forward progress. As I was doing this my teammate speared the pile from behind and the defender rolled over my body and bounced my head off of the turf. I was stabilized and carted off the field. After several tests I was diagnosed with a concussion. The doctor didn't give much direction on my pathway back to the football field. I sat out two games and with my father's blessing I returned to play in the playoff game. 

I learned that my dad continually feels guilt now that he knows the danger I was in by playing again. Another serious concussion could have led to lingering issues, paralysis or even death. "Had I known," he said, "you would've never laced up another pair of cleats." It brought on an interesting conversation about my future children. My answer is I don't know. I love the game, I cherish my experience and I continually refer to life lessons I learn from the gridiron. However, what was the cost of these things. I often suffer from severe migraines, irritation to light and insomnia all of which have been attributed to my history of concussions. I've even been diagnosed with three since I graduated from high school. 

In short when my future son asks me if he can play football I don't know what I would say. I would love to do "what's best" for him, but what does that mean? Will the game be as violent and risky by the time that conversation happens? Will rules be established to make things safer? Will medical treatment be available to prevent or treat brain injuries and other injuries? Will my son even want to play? I don't know what the answer would be and maybe I'll be lucky and only have daughters.

My Beat: MLB

One of my favorite pastimes is also happens to be "America's pastime" and for that reason I've decided to write my beat on MLB. I love watching and playing the game, but I'm also fascinated with the issues that happen off the field. The draft, trades, free agency, collective bargaining or anything else that occurs are all aspects of baseball I can't get enough of. I also enjoy learning about players and how they interact with their teams, community and families so I hope to incorporate some of those stories into my blog as well. So take me out to ball game and let's play ball.

James Cowser: The FCS Sack King and a Good Friend

Often times the star of fame can cause individuals to think more of themselves, than maybe they deserve. Athletes, collegiate or professional, are classic examples of how recognition can create a feeling of how athletes are "bigger than the game." As a fan, this can cause some content if you get the chance to meet someone you look up to on the court or field and their character doesn't match their athletic ability.

In a world where it's the norm for athletes to make more noise off the playing surface than on, it's always a treat to come into contact with an athlete who does live up to the expectations of the fans. I have a signed poster of James Cowser. To anyone who isn't familiar with SUU football or an Oakland Raiders fanatic, that name might not mean anything. Those who do know Cowser are associated with the all-time FCS sack and tackles for loss leader, a great student, and a great man. My autographed poster might not be the most desired sports memorabilia, but for me it represents one of my favorite players and a good friend.

For the majority of my life, sports represented something to do or something to watch. Though that is still the case, I've noticed that some of my fondest sports memories are centered around relationships. Whether it's attending a Jazz game with my dad or playing flag football with my closest friends the scores and teams don't matter in the end it's all about the people.

Cowser had no reason to associate with me. He was the best player on the football team destined to break records and play in the NFL and I was a little know sophomore. However, when the little known sophomore approached the big man on campus about joining forces to heckle the opposing team at a SUU basketball game, there was no qualms about it. We started of as a group of heckling fans (later donning the name "Dirty Birds) and overtime became friends. Now Cowser is terrorizing quarterbacks in the NFL, but he stills takes time to talk to the no name friend at SUU.

LeBron James comes Home: Why the Return?

Polarizing NBA superstar LeBron James is the epitome of the prodigal son after he returned to the Cavaliers after abandoning Cleveland for Miami for four years. Here's a great interview on why he decided to come home.

College Football Playoff: Sports are the Ultimate Reality TV

Cardale Jones is a football player who hasn't always been in the news for the correct reasons. As a third string quarterback at Ohio State University Jones tweeted:

Jones became the poster boy for what not to do as a professional athlete when it comes to social media and gave us all a good laugh. However everything change for Jones when OSU took on Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game. The Buckeyes, who already had a highly successful season after losing their starting quarterback Braxton Miller in the preseason, where defeating the Michigan Wolverines when their second string quarterback TJ Barrett broke his leg. The injury to Barrett was seemingly the nail in the coffin to many when it came to the Buckeyes' chance at making the College Football Playoff and playing for a National Championship. However has it always seems to happen, sports provided the ultimate medium for reality TV. Jones stepped into the game and didn't just play okay or well, but helped in the ushering of a 59-0 dismantling of Wisconsin, the 13th ranked team in the nation. Jones went from the butt of a joke to the MVP of the Big Ten Championship and vaulted OSU into the College Football Playoff jumping Big Twelve Conference powerhouses Baylor and TCU. It's the ultimate redemption story and sets up for quite the dynamic as the inaugural College Football Playoff gets underway this year.

Professional Athletes acting as Advocates: Can Athletes raise awareness for current issues in the Media?

Two recent interactions between African American citizens and police officers have raised eyebrows, to say the least, in recent months. Mike Brown and Eric Garner were both victims of police brutality recently that subsequently costed both of them their lives. Outrage in these men's communities have led to a review of conduct of law enforcement, as well as some public support from local professional athletes.

In the aftermath of Ferguson, MO multiple members of the St. Louis Rams paid tribute to Mike Brown when they were introduced into the game. The players walked out of the tunnel with their hands up, trying to raise awareness to the situation that costed Brown his life. The "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" raised questions to conduct of the police officer involved in Brown's death and also raised questions about if these athletes should be fined for their actions.

Professional basketball players like LeBron James and Derrick Rose recently dawned t-shirts that read "I can't breathe" during warm-ups in their NBA games. The idea behind the shirts is about raising awareness about Eric Garner who died in July after he was put in a headlock by a police officer. A video of the event show Garner in the headlock and you can clearly hear him saying to the officer, "I can't breath" to the officer.

The question is how well do these displays of activism effect the community and the viewers of these events? The answer will be determined in the future I suppose.

Professional Athletes Connecting with Fans that Need Them: When Athletes actually become Heroes

Recently sports media have been flooded with news of everything that's wrong with sports and professional athletes. In a world of negativity a few worthwhile stories have begun to take center stage and shine a positive light on the impact professional athletes can have.

John Wall, starting point guard for the Washington Wizards, recently cried in a post game interview after playing a game for a friend of his Mayah. She was a six year old that that Wall had connected to during the season who eventually passed away after a fight against cancer.

Travis Hamonic, a defensive-man for the New York Islanders, is putting aside the idea that hockey players don't have soft side. Hamonic meets with young fans after every game, win or lose, that have had a death of a parent effect their lives. Hamonic witnessed the death of his own father when he was ten years old and has a desire to help young people have a positive connection and understand how to better deal with death of such an important person in one's life.

Athletes have a unique ability to connect with fans who suffer from physical, mental or emotional pain.To avid sports fans a favorite team or players isn't just a logo or a jersey, they are a part of life. These are just a few of the professional athletes that are making positive impacts with their fans. A big tip of the cap to these heroes. 

Check out this link for the story of how an Auburn Wide Receiver made a difference in the life of a girl with leukemia.